The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-05-27
GAMBRELI-S


[ was never more shocked than on Sat
urday morning last when WI read i'll the
Geographic news columns Of Roderick
Gambrell's murder, at jackson, Mississip-
pi, by Col. J, S. Hamilton and others. 1t
was little more than three months ago
that I wrote at length about this young
man, and his father, Rev. J. i. Gambrell.
All who read that letter will have a correct
clue to the foul assault, the desperate
crime, which put out yet another life in
| liquors interest. and stamped whiskey
politics with yet 4 deeper infamy. The
feud between Hamilton and the Gam
brell's began in that Local Option contest
last summer, by which Kinds county was
carried for prohibition.
Both the elder and the younger Gam
brell we're fearless antagonists of this
liquor leader and his methods. Bloodshed
grew imminent at that time. and several at
tempts were made to assassinate Roderick,
against whom the malice of saloon keepers
and the Hamilton gang concentrated il
self. Night after night Frederick and his
father, with others rode to secret colored
meetings, arranged by Hamilton's agents,
and claimed hearing for the right. More
than once the young man was followed by
men with murder in their hearts; once he
was ambushed and a whole vollcy Of pis-
toll shots fired at him: once his younger
brother was shot at by some one supposing
it to be himself: once a liquor seller laid
in wait for him with 4 Winchester rifle,
and missed murder only because Roderick
left his Office by an unusual exit, came up
on the would-be assassin from behind, anG
''got the drop" on him.
The corrupting Liquor Traffic, tyran-
meal politically, could not brook such
courage, such moral heroism. Let a big
Drained father, and a noble hearted moth
err, both De struck at through the son! Let
one more true soul be disembodied, and
one more manglcd form lie looking mp to
heaven, i'll mute witness Of the devils
fendish work. And 50, under the moons
white light, as he walked home alone,
brave Roderick is oyertaken by this man
Hamilton and Il confederate in a carriage,
with two Others near by on foot, and the
black dastardly, demoniac deed is done.
My heart burns and my pulse leaps while
| think Of it. And one end Of the same
bridge wherein he was slain, l stood with
him of a calm Sunday ~.norning-it seems
but yesterday-and we talked of this bit
ter struggle between right and wrong. y
little later we rode and walked together
about the n%eighboring town Of Clinton,
where he was born and raised, and from
which but a year or two before his parents
had removed. Then We said Goodbye"
anticipating future meetings, and the
pleasures of a friendship warmly begun
two years earlier; and now he sleeps in
quiet Clinton forever, torn by the bullets
Of revenge and hatred, cut down in the
flush of early youth, another victim to the
gigantic crime of crimes which made itself
yet more basely criminal by his taking OF.
Brave, blameless Roderick Dhu,
manly life, and true,
They took who fouliY slew
This gallant youth:
The shots their hatred gent,
In him We're never spent,
But struck as if twerc meant,
Cod mighty truth.
Yet truth lives gIandIy on;
The moonlight pale and wan,
That CHASTITY scene upon
Looked calmly down.
And men viii ne'er forget
How Truths own coronct
Upon his brow was sci
\ shining crown,
Sleep well, chivalric knight
Swift martyr to the Right,
Hereafter in this light
Thy sword and shield
Another arm shall bear,
Another knight shall wear,
But by them now we swear
Never TO yicldi
| cannot bear to write Of ordinary mat
tiers now. The shadow of that darkened
! Mississippi home rests over me. ! would